Rural Conditions and Trends: Socioeconomic Conditions

This issue of Rural Conditions and Trends (RCaT) provides the annual review of current conditions in the Nation's rural areas that reflect the socioeconomic well-being of rural communities and the people who live there. It also examines the nature and direction of rural trends in the 1990's and their prospects for continuation during the remainder of the decade. Rural Conditions and Trends last reported on socioeconomic conditions and trends in rural America in its Spring 1995 issue based on indicators for circa 1990-93 (Vol.6, No. 1). The analysis presented in that issue cautiously pointed to a possible revitalization of rural areas following a decade of widespread economic stress and population decline. Based on the most recent indicators available, this issue shows that rural areas are experiencing widespread population growth and improved economic performance during the first half of the 1990's, providing further credence to the argument that rural America as a whole is undergoing an economic and population revival (table 1). Yet, even in the face of a possible rural revival, the levels of income and earnings from nonfarm jobs in rural areas continue to lag those in urban areas.

Author(s):

Bowers, Douglas E.

Published:

1996/12/01

Categories:

  • Business, Finance, and Economics

Pub ID:

(For Internal Use)
7

Box ID:

(For Internal Use)
2